Three King George upsets as Enable aims for another win in Ascot's showpiece

Defeat for Enable in Saturday's Qipco-backed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes would be an upset and we take a look at three other times the race might not have gone according to script.

2010: Harbinger

A 4-1 shot who ended the year as world champion winning the King George might not seem anything out of the ordinary, but the performance Harbinger produced in the Ascot highlight was just that.

It came, however, at the expense of Derby winner and stablemate Workforce, who went off the 8-11 favourite after his impressive Epsom exploits. He failed to fire though, finishing almost 17 lengths behind the emphatic winner, who had 'just' the 11 lengths in hand over second-placed Cape Blanco.

A career-ending injury not long after the King George meant Harbinger never raced again, while there was a happy ending for Workforce as their master trainer Sir Michael Stoute coaxed him back to form to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 71 days later.

1997: Swain

No horse has won the King George at bigger odds since 16-1 shot Swain was driven to a length-verdict over Breeders' Cup Turf winner Pilsudski in a strong renewal that also featured the previous year's Arc winner Helissio, who started as the 11-10 favourite, and Singspiel, who had collected the Japan Cup, Dubai World Cup and Coronation Cup on his previous three appearances.

The heavyweight line-up also included St Leger winner Shantou, along with Predappio, a 12-1 chance who carried the first-choice Godolphin colours, but John Reid in the second silks shot for home early in the straight on the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Swain, who responded resolutely.

He also doubled up in the great race 12 months later and developed into one of those acclaimed Godolphin international performers, demonstrating his versatility by finishing second and third in top-class dirt events the Dubai World Cup and Breeders' Cup Classic.

Oh So Sharp: fast ground was against the star filly at AscotCredit: Cranham Gerry

1985: Petoski

Steve Cauthen reckons Oh So Sharp was the second-best horse he rode – a female version of his Triple Crown hero Affirmed – but she could not win the King George the year she lit up the Flat season.

Successful in the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks, a flagbearer of Sir Henry Cecil's all-conquering yard went off favourite for the high-summer championship, but encountered "rock-hard ground, which she hated" according to Cauthen and had to give best to the unexposed three-year-old Petoski, who was ridden by Willie Carson and produced a breakout performance at odds of 12-1.

The defeat did not take the gloss of a wonderful season as Oh So Sharp recovered and added her name to the list of turf greats by winning the St Leger and becoming a fillies' Triple Crown heroine.

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